AMY BUTLER’S BLOG TOUR: 10 STYLISH PROJECTS THAT CELEBRATE PATCHWORK

Worlds are about to collide! I’m the seventh stop (and maybe in seventh heaven) on Amy Butler’s Big-Old-Blog-Tour-Celebrating-Her-New-Book Piece Keeping. Even though I’ve got my own Paper Obsessed Blog Tour happening right now, I wanted to take a breather to show you what the Amy Butler has been up to. Have you seen this book?

It’s ridiculously cute and incredibly inspired. Amy and I discussed Piece Keeping while we were at Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, UT. Remember? We made our Letters from Home quilt from her new fabric Eternal Sunshine for her booth.

We chatted a lot about how the book was filled with all kinds of different fabrics, not just the beauties that Amy herself has designed. As a fellow designer and artist, I agreed that it’s wonderful to pull inspiration from lots of different places. Mixing and matching various substrates that have richness of color and amazing textures found in fabrics like cotton linens can be so rewarding. I’m impressed that Amy’s new book pulls from a huge range of fabrics and textures.

One of my favorite projects in the book is the Stash Pouches project. The book includes instructions and patterns for three sizes of pouches. I landed on the large.

I wanted to incorporate some elements found in her inspiration, namely the leather pull and the metal zipper, so I headed to Diagon Alley to find my supplies. Just kidding. But I did go to a place that is pretty much where Harry Potter gets his supplies for Hogwarts. If you’re remotely close to Indianapolis and have just a slight interest in working with leather, you need to go to Landwerlen Leather at 365 S Illinois Downtown Indy.

The outside is so unassuming with the mailbox numbers glued to the window with its hand lettered and painted sign. But inside…

…it’s a dream world. Established in 1908, you’ll find old cabinets filled full of leather sewing supplies. They are a leather supply and shoe findings warehouse for the leather trades, small manufacturers, and hobbyists. And it smells INCREDIBLE like leather.

I got my goods, felt inspired, and set off to make my Stash Pouch. I chose to use Robert Kaufman’s Metallic Essex Linen with a piece of vintage plaid I’ve had in my stash forever. This also seemed like a good time to pull out a little hunk of Heather Ross’s Far Far Away printed on lightweight cotton linen to use as the lining.

Amy Butler made construction easy to follow and I truly appreciated that each of the pattern pieces told you exactly what to do as well as the book itself. Piece Keeping celebrates patchwork, so of course, the flying goose is the star of this bag. I mean, I love the flying geese. [Check out our Row by Row Experience block as evidence.]

My most favorite part of this bag, however, is the sweet pleats. They make the entire project.

I added a little bit of my Paper Obsessed stamp fabric to the interior, just a little embellishment. I knew I loved it and I figured Amy would like the succulents hidden inside.

Here’s the view before I sewed it together. Notice there’s a sneaky pocket inside, too.

Want to peek in on a sample of the book with a sample of the instructions? Check it out here.

Amy Butler, Chronicle Books, Free Spirit Fabric, and Renaissance Ribbons are all giving away amazing swag with this blog tour. Each stop provides one winner a copy of the book, a fat quarter bundle of Eternal Sunshine, and a slug of Amy Butler designed ribbons. Leave a comment here and tell me what kind of sneaky treasure do you want to hide inside your Stash Pouch or tell me about the most amazing store you’ve ever been in that was unassuming from the outside but inside, there was total magic. I’ll draw one commenter randomly July 22 at 8:00 AM. Please make sure there is way to contact you (either through your link or by adding your email to the comment). Thanks for playing along. Don’t forget to find me in other avenues or visit me in the store at Crimson Tate!

I love traveling to all the blogs in this tour. I’m finding some new quilters to start following in blog land. I would put a little pocket inside the pouch stitched closed to hold a small piece of paper telling anybody who might happen to find it after I accidentally dropped it somewhere, that this was mine and to please call me. I would have a dollar bill in the pocket as a reward.
Email: satena@yahoo.com

I would sneakily stash my phone so I wouldn’t be constantly digging for it at the bottom of my bag, lol! Such a cute pattern. Crimson Tate is that unassuming place for me- simple storefront on our little historic Mass Ave, but inside it is cheerful and happy, kind of a retreat from my busy schedule as a wife,mom of 4 and full time Nurse.

I would hide my guilty pleasure candy, Zotz, in that pouch. They’re hard candies that have fizzy stuff in the middle. I can’t help but buy a few when I go in the local toy store, with or without, my kids. 🙂

If I made a bag as adorable as yours (I love the fabric choices and notions you used), I would actually carry it as a clutch. So it would hold all of my regular goodies, phone, cash, DL, lip balm, etc.
As for an unassuming store… That one is harder. I can think of loads of unassuming restaurants! Lol, hole in the wall magic! But that leather shop looks like a gem!
-Erin
Adastraquilting.com

My husband wanted a new belt but didn’t want the flimsy, dress belts you can find in mainstream stores. He wanted a BELT. I was visiting my sister in Iowa and we did a day trip to Kalona. We asked about belts of someone on town and were directed to the Amish-owned harness shop. It was so unassuming that we drove past it more than once! Inside it was filled with every kind of strap, leather, findings and old treadle sewing machines for sewing leather and heavy straps. The owner got measurements, let us pick out buckles, cut the leather strip for the belt, trimmed it to length after double checking the measurements, and fastened the buckle end with grommets.
The hubs was thrilled with his belt and the next time we were in Kalona we got him another one, just so he could experience that shop!

I buy lots of pouches but have never made one. Perhaps I need to rethink this. Love you pouch (I love plaids). Years ago when I visited San Francisco for the first time, I was browsing downtown and wandered upon Britex Fabrics. I had never heard of them before so I went in for a look. Oh my, the fabrics, the buttons. I was lost in this store for some time just playing with the buttons and petting the fabrics. I love buttons. Such an unexpected discovery.

Beautiful pouch! Love your fabric choices! A friend told me about this awesome fabric store in Pensicola, Fl which is a pharmacy/fabric store combined. When I drove up it looked old and run down but oh what treasures their where to be had on the inside! Aisles and aisles of fabric!! Who would have ever thought! Never judge a book by its cover!

I have never made a pouch/clutch, but I love the design of this one! Yours is an inspiration! I would make one of these, just to try my skills, and use it for my “going to church” purse, since it is not huge! I would so love to win this treasure trove of goodies! Have most of Amy’s fabrics, such a stash! I would love to share the ribbons with my granddaughter who is having major back surgery in 2 weeks. She likes to make things out of ribbons, strings, etc., and is very creative. We will need to help her get through this time. (She has scoliosis, so the surgery is major!) Thanks!

Really like the use of plaid fabric, and I would travel with a cute little tape measure in my pouch. Alway comes in handy. Amy’s book is so full of great stuff, can’t wait to get mine. Thanks for sharing.

Superb design, and those pleats , the pattern shows your fabric choices so well . Inside, mobile phone and glasses, just the right size for doctor and hospital visits, and room for one puzzle book with a pencil
The store here in NZ that looks nothing outside, just walls, is Ajay’s Emporium in Rotorua. Goodies from fabric, yes, rolls and rolls, everything in notions, hardware for the man, and more goodies for artists, and the kiddies too.My definite ONE place I have to call into when we visit the family there. This is more than 4 hours from our place,so a long time inside is necessary.

Hmm.. I think I would keep a stash of Perle cottons for hand stitching in the pouch. I had made a pouch for that purpose but now the collection has outgrown the pouch! Also, one really cool store that I happened upon, near Lancaster, PA was Obie’s. What a wild fabric shop. Stuffed to the gills with treasures.

I would stash my favorite handmade buttons and favorite embroidery threads! I’m still pretty new to crafting but I’ve seen a lot of pictures of stores online I would love to visit in person. Thanks so much for a chance!

While I wouldn’t call Crimson Tate unassuming exactly, it looks like my middle school that was built in the mid sixties. But you walk inside and BAM! You are in the happiest place on Earth for quilters!!! Heather curates a fabulous array of great fabrics from around the world, great notions, classes to drool over, and her fabulous fabric lines. But the absolute best part is the fun and fantastic Heather and David! If you are even thinking of coming to Indy, you have to put Crimson Tate on your agenda!!

Oh, this is one of my favorites from the blog tour! If I made the pouch I’d keep a little hand sewing project in it, or chocolate, or both…or maybe not both, since the chocolate might melt. Hmmm, maybe I’d have to make two!

Your pouch is positively inspired! I love the combination of materials. I would use this for traveling with a small applique project, scissors, and thread, and fabric scraps. Thanks for the awesome giveaway and for your fun blog!

That pouch is gorgeous! Your story about the leather store reminded me about the sewing store my mom used to take me to when I was little. I can’t remember the name of it, but it was a treasure trove just like your store. As a kid, i only appreciated it for all the nooks and crannies available to hide in! But as an adult, I wish it was still around. It had piles of fabric bolts and notions and drawer like your pictures have full of little bibs and bobs! sigh…

Long time Amy Butler fan here! She has such style and great taste that I love.
A few years ago we were shopping in downtown Madison, Wisconsin and I walked into a little store that had a rack of scarves outside its door. That was enough to intrigue me, but once inside, I just wanted to look at everything! They had not only scarves, but jewelry, clothing, lamps, some furniture and even pet clothing. Every was arranged by someone who obviously loved their merchandise and shop. I can’t remember the name of the shop, but look forward to going back there! Oh, inside my little pocket would be my angel coin that a dear friend gave me.

You made a super cute pouch and I love the little pleats. I would hide a very sweet note that my husband put in my suitcase when I was leaving on a business trip. Such a small thing meant so much and I treasure it. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

Amy thanks for sharing the delicious pouch; those pleats totally make it! I’m a sucker for succulents ever since Heather’s “Succulents ” collection was released and I’ve had the sheer pleasure of stitching with it (Quilts, runners, bath mats, pillows and more). The most awesome store I’ve ever shopped was in the 70’s, sold jeans at 5 bucks a pair! Wooden Nickel is the store w/every denim shade, washed, bleached, etc was stacked from wooden pilings, floor to ceiling. Granted I was a child then (a tall one) but it left me feeling like I was growing among tall trees.
Thanks for zip pouch tute and sharing your talents with us fabric obsessors:)

The most unassuming store, if you can call it a store was a restaurant in Florence that translates as vegetarian coop…from the outside it looked abandoned, no sign etc to show what it was. Inside it was a busy, cafeteria style vegetarian restaurant full of university students and professors and the occasional tourist. The food was fantastic. We went back several times.
Thanks for the chance to win.

Love this! Oh I wish I lived in Indianapolis… I would so love that store. My favorite unassuming-outside-yet-wonderful-inside store would be a ribbon and button store in Paris, Ultramod, established in the 1800s I believe. Thank you for the giveaway. I hope I get it…!

This Stash Pouch would be perfect for keeping in my purse to carry all of my little necessities – things like Ibuprofen, band-aids, safety pins, gum, small toothbrush and toothpaste, Shout Wipes, etc. I would probably have to make it in a smaller size, though. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!

The first few times I stepped into Greenbaums Quilted Forest in Salem, Oregon, I didn’t recognize the magic- but it didn’t take long!!! My love of quilts and fabrics and dogs has been nurtured in the forest for many years! I am so sad that they are closing their doors next month, but I thank Sylvia and wish her the best in her retirement 😘👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼